Knock-down door buck construction with adjustable wall clamping means



Nov. 10, 1964 s. SKLAR KNOCK-DOWN DOOR BUCK CONSTRUCTION WITH ADJUSTABLE WALL CLAMPING MEANS Filed Oct. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR KITTOKN-KS Nov. 10, 1964 s. SKLAR 3,156,331

KNOCK-DOWN DOOR BUCK CONSTRUCTION WITH ADJUSTABLE WALL CLAMPING MEANS Filed Oct. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L III I l L2,! i i i z I l I T i I I 0 Ah I 21, E

INVENTOR. SAMUEL SKA/4R United States Patent 3,156,331 KN'GCK DQWN DGOR BUCK CONSTRUCTKON WITH ADIUSTABLE WALL CLAlt RENG MEANS Samuel Slilar, 63-453 Alderton Sh, Rego Park, N.Y. Filed Get. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 230,577 4 Claims. (ill. 189-46) This invention relates to door frames, bucks, and the like and more particularly is directed to knock-down door bucks preformed of sheet metal as used in fire resistant portal constructions and is a modification of the construc tions described in my previous Patent No. 2,799,370, granted July 16, 1957 and application Ser. No. 11,689 filed February 29, 1960, now Patent No. 3,083,798. The door bucks embodying this invention are for use directly on doorway openings formed in partitions and wall constructions of sheet rock, plaster blocks, cinder blocks, concrete or the like without the utilization of supporting frames of wooden studs and lintels.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve door buck constructions of the character described which shall be capable of conforming to requirements of the fire underwriters for fireproof and fire resistant portal construction, which shall comprise three preformed basic parts which require relatively unskilled labor for assembly and installation, which preformed parts in knockdown condition shall require a minimum of shipping space and shall permit easy and rapid installation in an unframed doorway opening formed or cut in a partition or wall construction, which shall be formed with inturned opposite flanges for contacting the partition or wall bordering the doorway opening as a finished joint therewith and have simple improved means for adjusting the spacing between the flanges and clamping the wall therebetween, which shall entirely eliminate the labor and material costs of framing a doorway with studs and lintel prior to installation of the door buck and shall serve to strengthen partitions made of sheet rock and the like which shall provide a novel interconnection between the jambs and head piece including a simulated mitered joint, and which shall be rugged in construction and practical to a high degree in use.

Other objectives of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawings in which an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a wall or partition having a doorway formed therein in which a three piece buck embodying the invention is installed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing details of the jamb fitted over and clamping a laminated two ply structure of one inch sheet rock forming the wall or partition and showing the means for reducing the spacing between the inwardly extending flanges to clamp the Wall or partition in accordance with the invention, the broken lines indicating the disposition of the jamb parts in an expanded condition to permit mounting on a vertical edge of the doorway prior to tightening the set screw to effect the clamping.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 in FIG. 2 showing other details of the means for reducing the flange spacing.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1 showing details of the head piece with associated means for reducing the spacing between the flanges and parts of the interconnection with the jamb,

Patented Nov. 10, 1964 the head piece being shown in broken lines in an expanded condition to permit mounting on the horizontal edge of the doorway and in a raised position to permit assembly with the jambs.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded fragmentary perspective view of the head piece and jamb showing additional details of construction.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of a corner of the door buck with parts broken away to show interior construction of the jamb and head piece interconnection and the simulated mitered joint, and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 in FIG. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 denotes a knock-down door buck or frame constructed to embody the invention seen to include a head piece 11 for extending horizontally across the top of a doorway and interconnecting at opposite ends thereof with vertically extending jambs 12.

Head piece 11 as seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 may be formed of sheet metal as a channel-shaped member having opposite side walls 1112 each formed with an inwardly bent longitudinally extending flange 11a forming a top finished ledge of the door frame and serving as an element of the improved wall or partition clamping means for the installed buck lil as hereinafter described. The bottom of head piece 11 is formed with a depressed portion, U-shaped in cross section, forming a horizontal door stop portion He, the latter being centrally offset to pro vide a horizontal door framing portion lid. In order to serve the intended purpose, head piece 11 has the bottom thereof cut back from, that is, shorter than the overall length of flanges 11:: with side walls llb having opposite tapered end edges 11c extending from flanges 11a to the head piece bottom. As is clear from FIGS. 6 and 7 door stop portion 1110 is cut back further and terminates a spaced distance from each end of the bottom. Suitable male components of an interconnection with the open ends of jambs 12 are provided to extend downwardly from head piece 11 at opposite ends thereof. Such components may comprise a pair of lateral tabs 13 and a transverse tab 14 located at each end of head piece 11. Each tab 13 may be L-shaped in cross section to comprise a first plate 13a extending in a plane parallel to and spaced inwardly from side wall 11b and a second plate 13b extending at right angles to plate 13a, the latter having an inverted L-shape to provide a horizontal extension which is spot welded to the interior surface of side wall 11b with a shim 13d interposed to provide the required spacing, plate 1312 being positioned to extend in a plane spaced inwardly of the end of flange 11a as is clear from FIG. 5. One transverse tab 14 is spaced from each free end of the head piece bottom and is suitably attached, as by spot welding, to the interior surface of door framing portion 11d by means of a stepped right angle extension 14a and provides a recess 14b from the framing portion lid to accommodate an end of the jamb portion of jamb 12 as shown in FIG. 6.

lambs 12., which are mirror images of each other but otherwise identical, are likewise formed of sheet metal as channel-shaped members having opposite side walls 12b extending at right angles to the jamb portions thereof, the latter having door stop portions 120, U-shaped in cross section, projecting therefrom and positioned to provide vertical door framing portions 12d which align with horizontal door portion 11d of head piece 11 when in assembly as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7. The edges of side walls 12!: have inwardly bent flanges 12a forming vertical finished edges for jambs l2 and serving as ele ments of the adjustable wall or partition clamping means embodying the invention.

Bottom ends of jambs 12 are squared off, that is, have m {J edges extending at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the jambs for standing flat on a flooring surface. Upper ends of jarnbs 12 are seen in FIGS. 4, and 6 to have the upper edges 12a of the jamb portions cut back from the overall length of flanges 12a, with side walls 121; terminating in beveled edges 12g, the latter terminating inwardly of flanges 12a. Lateral trackways 12h, L-shaped in cross section, are provided in the upper end of jarnbs 12 to telescopingly receive tabs 13 of head piece 11. Trackways 1211 may be formed by suitably welding liner plates 121' at the lower ends thereof, to the interior surface of side walls 12b. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 7 liner plates 12: may be formed and cut from channel-shaped stock. Head piece 11 and jarnbs 12, being formed of channel-shaped stock, permit side walls fill) and 12b, respectively, to be sprung, that is, distorted from a slightly divergent or substantially parallel relation to a convergent relation along the width thereof to decrease the distances between the free inner edges Ill and 32f of flanges 11a and 12a, respectively, and th reby serve as a clamping means for gripping a wall or partition V! in which door buck 19 is installed. This clamping action is accomplished by providing stifiening plates 11k and 12k at spaced intervals along head piece 11 and jambs 12, respectively. stiffening plates 11k, extending transversely along the head piece bottom, are secured to the interior surface thereof, as by welding, and plates F.2k, likewise extending transversely across the jamb portions of jamb 12, are similarly secured. A strap 15, cooperating and aligned with each of the plates Elk and 12k and actuated by a threaded set screw 16, serves to adjust the angular relation between side walls lib and 1212 providing a clamping action by flanges 11a and 1.20, respectively. Straps 15 may each be formed as a metal strip or plate suitably bent to provide an intermediate section 15a, which extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of each stiffening plate 11k and 12k, and a pair of divergent arm sections 151) each terminating in an inwardly bent tab section 150. The latter may be suitably attached, as by welding, to the interior surface of its respective flange 11a or 12a. A set screw 16 extends through door framing portion 11d and each stiffening plate 11k and through each door framing portion 12d and stiffening plate 12k, engaging a threaded opening 15d formed in each intermediate section 1511.

The utility of the invention will now be apparent. Door buck it) is particularly adapted for use in any partition or wall structure made of cinder blocks, concrete, gypsum blocks and the like, without the use of a wooden doorway frame and is here shown in combination with a partition W formed as panels of a laminated structure made of two plies of one inch sheet rock or plaster board P, which may be mounted in a floor channel forming molding M, a similar ceiling channel (not shown) and vertical separators or" conventional H-shape cross section (not shown) as supporting structure between the panels. A doorway is suitably cut in wall or partition W in the well understood manne to predetermined dimensions corresponding to the size of buck 16 to be used.

Door buck is delivered on the job in a knock-down condition with set screws 16 adjusted to dispose side walls 11b and 12b in a slightly divergent or substantially parallel position to space free inner edges 11f and 12] a predetermined distance apart to snugly accommodate the thickness of wall W therebetween. In this position as indicated in broken lines in FIGS. 2 and 4, intermediate sections a of straps 15 are spaced from their respective stiffening plates 11k and 312k. Door buck it) is then simultaneously installed and assembled with minimum of labor and skill by first holding head p 1 in position with a horizontal top edge portion of a top of the doorway extending between flanges 11a and the bottom of head piece 11 up against the horizontal free edge of the doorway. lambs 12 are then brought into position at an angle to the vertical so that lateral tabs 13 align with lateral track- 4 EEC .i

are brought into verthe doorway exways 12/: of i 1 es or a Datum iii.

v edges lie of side walls lib. The ends of at right angles but with side riapping side walls r212, tapered edges lle d mitered corn as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. 2 in door framing portions 2d adjacent the upper en jambs will now be in registered alignment with openi gs 14c formed in transverse tabs 14.

SIS

ad piece 1; are now secured together by t n of suitable screws 1'7, which may he of self tapping e, through aligned openings 122m and 140.

ration of door buck it} in the doorway of pa v. l W may be completed by rotating set screws in a clockwise direction. Intermediate sections 15a of 15 are thereby brought closer to their respective so ening plates ilk and 12k to exert tension through the fic:-.mg of ivergcnt arm secns 15b with respect to intermediate sections 15a and slightly flex side walls 11!) and i212 ca sing inward edges 11 and 12; of flanges 11a and 32a, respectively, to clamp wall W therebetween, as is clear from H83. 2 and 4. Set screws 16 have heads 16:! countersunk from the exterior surfaces of door framing portions lid and rid and may be provided with grooves for a conventional screwdriver or may be formed to receive an Allen wrench or Phillips screwdriver.

The clamping action is accomplished by a relatively small degree of flexing of side walls 111; and 12b whereby the spacing between opposite inward edges 111 and 12f of flanges 11a and 12a, respectively, is reduced on the order of one eighth to one quarter of an inch and provides a rigid attachment between door buck and wall W, the channel shape of the buck also serving to strengthen wall W along the edges of the doorway. it is to be understood that straps 15 may have the en s of divergent arm sections 15b, here show terminating in tab sections 150,

arranged for lie mg side walls 11b and 12b in any other suitable M, for example, directly secured to side walls lib a 22:) adjacent flanges 11a and 12a, respectively.

One of jambs 22, may be provided with conventional hinge plates is, which may be suitably pro-attached and recessed from door framing portion 12d any well understood manner. The other of the jambs 1?. may have a conventional opening (not shown) cut out for a bolt socket plate.

As per requirem nts, jambs 12 are sized in length for installation either before or after the laying of finished floor F.

As will be clear from the drawings and description, door buck It!) may be installed after wall W has its outer finish applied thereto in the same manner as the door buck described in my said Patent No. 2,799,370.

It is thus seen that there is provided a knock-down door buck construction with adjustable wall clamping means of the character described in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. in a three-piece metal preformed door buck construction for installing in a doorway cut in a wall, a pair of channel-shaped jambs each integrally formed with opposite side walls for extending over vertical edges of a wall bordering said doorway, flanges inwardly bent toward each other extending from said opposite side walls for clarnpingly contacting opposite sides of said wall, adjustable means coacting with said side walls to flex the latter and bring said flanges toward each other to eiiect said clamping contact, each jamb having a jamb portion from which said opposite side walls integrally extend, said adjustable means including a plurality of straps spaced from each other along each of said jamb portions, each strap having an intermediate section and a pair of opposite arm sections, each intermediate section being spaced from and substantially parallel to the jamb portion and having opposite ends thereof formed in bends divergently disposing said arm sections With respect to each other, each of said arm sections having an end opposite said bend attached to one of the opposite side walls, means adjustably interconnecting each intermediate section with the jamb portion to vary the distance therebetween, said strap being otherwise free from contact and engagement with said jamb portion and opposite side walls, said bends being constructed and arranged to flex and decrease the divergence of said arm sections upon bringing the intermediate portion towards the jamb portion by said interconnecting means to effect said side wall flexing and wall clamping by said flanges.

2. The door buck construction defined in claim 1 in which said adjustable interconnecting means between each of said intermediate sections and said jamb portion includes a headed screw for each of said straps extending through said jamb portion and being threaded into said intermediate section to bring the latter towards said jamb portion in said distance variation on tightening the screw.

3. The door buck construction defined in claim 1 including a channel-shaped head piece having a pair of 0pposite side walls upturned from a bottom portion thereof for extending over a horizontal edge of said wall bordering the doorway, flanges inwardly bent toward each other from said head piece side Walls for clamping opposite sides of said wall adjacent said horizontal edge, said head piece having opposite ends formed for interconnecting with upper ends of said jambs, and a plurality of straps s m a to Sa d fi t ment ned strapsrcoactins wi a head piece side walls to flex the latter and bring said head piece flanges toward each other to effect said clamping contact.

4. In a three-piece metal preformed door buck construction for installing in a doorway cut in a wall, a pair of channel-shaped jambs each integrally formed with opposite side walls for extending over vertical edges of a wall bordering said doorway, flanges inwardly bent toward each other extending from said opposite said side walls for clampingly contacting opposite sides of said wall, adjustable means coacting with said side walls to flex the latter and bring said flanges towards each other to eifect said clamping contact, each jamb having a jamb portion from which said opposite side walls integrally extend, said adjustable means including a plurality of straps spaced from each other along each of said jamb portions, each strap having an intermediate section and a pair of opposite arm sections, each intermediate section being spaced from and substantially parallel to the jamb portion and havin opposite ends thereof formed in relatively flexible bends divergently disposing said arm sections with respect to each other, each of said arm sections having an end opposite said bend attached to one of the opposite side walls, a transverse stiffening plate attached to the interior of each of said jamb portions in alignment with each of said straps, a headed screw for each of said straps extending through said jamb portion and stiffening plate and threadedly engaging said intermediate section for moving the latter towards said jamb portion on tightening the screw to flex the arm sections at said bends and decrease the divergence thereof to etfect said side wall flexing and wall clamping by said flanges, said straps being otherwise free from contact and engagement with said jamb portions and opposite side walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,068,656 Holmes July 29, 1913 1,968,890 Huff Aug. 7, 1934 2,741,344 Herr Apr. 10, 1956 2,799,370 Sklar July 16, 1957 2,825,042 Tollefson Feb. 25, 1958 2,869,695 Herr et al. Jam-20, 1959 akemhaewi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,156,331 November 10, 1964 Samuel Sklar It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, lines 17, 38, 57 and occurrence, read 58, for "sheet rock", out "sheet rock or".

each plaster board column 3, line 51, strike Signed and sealed this 6th day of May 1969.

(SEAL) Attesting Officer ommissioner of Patents Attest: W I O 1 Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. 

1. IN A THREE-PIECE METAL PREFORMED DOOR BUCK CONSTRUCTION FOR INSTALLING IN A DOORWAY CUT IN A WALL, A PAIR OF CHANNEL-SHAPED JAMBS EACH INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS FOR EXTENDING OVER VERTICAL EDGES OF A WALL BORDERING SAID DOORWAY, FLANGES INWARDLY BENT TOWARD EACH OTHER EXTENDING FROM SAID OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS FOR CLAMPINGLY CONTACTING OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID WALL, ADJUSTABLE MEANS COACTING WITH SAID SIDE WALLS TO FLEX THE LATTER AND BRING SAID FLANGES TOWARD EACH OTHER TO EFFECT SAID CLAMPING CONTACT, EACH JAMB HAVING A JAMB PORTION FROM WHICH SAID OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS INTEGRALLY EXTEND, SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF STRAPS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER ALONG EACH OF SAID JAMB PORTIONS, EACH STRAP HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE SECTION AND A PAIR OF OPPOSITE ARM SECTIONS, EACH INTERMEDIATE SECTION BEING SPACED FROM AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE JAMB PORTION AND HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF FORMED IN BENDS DIVERGENTLY DISPOSING SAID ARM SECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID ARM SECTIONS HAVING AN END OPPOSITE SAID BEND ATTACHED TO ONE OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS, MEANS ADJUSTABLY INTERCONNECTING EACH INTERMEDIATE SECTION WITH THE JAMB PORTION TO VARY THE DISTANCE THEREBETWEEN, SAID STRAP BEING OTHERWISE FREE FROM CONTACT AND ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID JAMB PORTION AND OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS, SAID BENDS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO FLEX AND DECREASE THE DIVERGENCE OF SAID ARM SECTIONS UPON BRINGING THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION TOWARDS THE JAMB PORTION BY SAID INTERCONNECTING MEANS TO EFFECT SAID SIDE WALL FLEXING AND WALL CLAMPING BY SAID FLANGES. 